Chief Justin Sutherland arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

Celebrity chef Justin Sutherland was arrested Friday night in St. Paul on suspicion of domestic assault and criminal threats of violence, police said.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, police were called to an address in the 800 block of Front Avenue in St. Paul after receiving reports that an armed man was outside the address. When police arrived, they spoke to a man and a woman. The man, identified as Sutherland, 39, was arrested and booked into the Ramsey County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence and criminal threats of violence, the sergeant said. Mike Ernster, spokesperson for the St. Paul Police Department.

“Our investigators will work to determine the circumstances that led to this arrest. When we have those details, we will share them,” he said. Police will present a case to the Ramsey County Prosecutor's Office for consideration of filing charges, according to Ernster.

Sutherland remained in jail as of Saturday afternoon.

The St. Paul chef has been featured on “Iron Chef,” “Fast Foodies,” “Top Chef,” “Taste the Culture” and has been a judge on several other cooking-focused TV shows and talk shows, like “Good Morning America.” He won Food Network's “Iron Chef” and was a finalist on the season of “Top Chef.” He is also the author of a cookbook, “Northern Soul,” and won an Emmy for “Taste the Culture.”

He opened his first restaurant, Handsome Hog, in Lowertown St. Paul. Sutherland is no longer affiliated with that restaurant but owns Big E, an egg sandwich shop on Grand Avenue.

Earlier this year, he announced he would help reopen Rondo's beloved community restaurant, Golden Thyme Coffee and Cafe. Sutherland and his father, Kerry Sutherland, are partnering with the nonprofit Rondo Community Land Trust to open the restaurant.